The Palette – a #poem by Stan Stewart

Snow has always refreshed my palette. Like a thorough washing of my prejudices Or a complete cleansing of my misunderstandings, It always seemed to be a sheet of singularity.

Today, I will receive a lesson from Snow; One that I have learned a dozen times. This new learning will be different: More visceral, intrepid, and intractable.

For every human being, reality offers a myriad of Clear teachings. But we are not always so receptive.Instead, the ephemeral imagination Is often far more convincing. That imaginative ephemera was today’s Gift. And I was about to receive it.

As it happened, When the snowfall offered its usual Invitation to the outdoors, I accepted.

Immediately, I knew this morning was different. It was early; Winter pre-dawn. The only light was from the recently full moon.

In this ungarish, reflected light Its true colors were not white. Instead, I saw hues of cyan With soft hints of magenta And something yellowish: At first I thought it might be golden, But as my eyes adapted in the dim moonlight, It turned out to be more The color of piss and vinegar.

Instead of driving its point home too hard, The moon shifted And the blues took over again; As ever, the palette had a sense of honesty.

In that shift, I was reminded to look Again.

Anchored everywhere in the Blanket of snow are the bold Signs of leaves:True golden, Red, andVibrant yellow.

And the soil, the very ground of our Being Peaks through everywhere, Showing the beauty of Black and brown.

“The ground of being is the ground of our being, and when we simply turn outward, we see all of these little problems here and there. But, if we look inward, we see that we are the source of them all.” ~ Joseph Campbell

* All photos (including the one used as a background for the quote) were taken by me during the walk in the snow referenced in the poem.